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Category:Cyanosis

Cyanosis is a blue to purple coloration of the skin and mucous membranes which may happen because of reduced oxygen in the blood or when small blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) because of a medical problem, and not enough oxygenated blood can reach that area of the body.

Usually cyanosis is first seen in the fingertips especially under the fingernails (the nail bed) and the lips. The longer the body goes without oxygen, the larger the area which becomes cyanotic. The extremities are affected by cyanosis first, they include; the fingertips and the lips and also the toes, tip of the nose and ear lobes.